Bibelt



July 2, 1929.

H. M. M CORMICK ET AL.

BIBELT Filed Dec. 1926 Patented July 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUGH MALCOLM MCCORMICK AND SARA WEBER MCCORMICK, OF MORENCI, MICHIGAN ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO HUGH MALCOLM MCCORMICK, OF MO- RENCI, MICHIGAN.

Application filed December 1, 1926. Serial No. 151,904.

This invention relates to support and re duction of that portion of the human abdomen. located within the pelvic cavity by means of leverage, as opposed to constriction, and is adaptable for use by both the human male and female; but its principal purpose is to provide women with adequate, comfortable and healthful abdominal support (and abdominal reduction when desired) in conditions of abdominal ptosis, and to supply the patient, surgeon and nurse with a long needed and much wanted type of abdominal supporter in post-laparotomy and post-parturition cases. 1

The fundamental characteristic of our invention is the transformation of an ordinary abdominal bandage or girdle into a dual garment having two distinct and separate functions; the one intrnpelvic abdominal sup port, the other all the common uses of abdominal bandages or girdles in general. The intra-pelvic abdominal support portion is so constructed and positioned that, when adjusted to the person, it encloses, confines, and conforms to the shape of the lower abdomen. When the diverged front ends of the levers are drawn toward each other by force the initial action strainsupon the upper portions of the bases or fulcrums of said levers, which strains are directed simultaneously frontwardly and downwardly, while every other abdominal bandage lifts, initially, upward and rearward. Asthe diverged front ends continue to be drawn toward each other said strains descend along the levers bases or fulcrums until the front ends of said levers are in full operation upon the intra-pelvically located base of the abdomen. During this operation the levers front ends have lifted until, their full force exerted, they support and uphold the base of the abdomen by asimultaneous upward and backward pressure which is at substantially right angles to the initial downward and frontward strains, and

this final leverage forces the intra-pelvically located lower abdomen obliquelv centerward and upward away from the groins and at the same time backward. True intra-pelvice abdominal support reenforces and assists nature by tending to restore displaced and mis: placed lower abdominal organs and tissues to their normal positions. To effect the transition from a corset to an abdominal belt, which is the subject of this invention, we singly or ointly had to produce invention after invention, as shown by our above named United States Letters Patents, to be able to finally correlate and produce our original improvement in abdominal bandage endeavor. Bi-belts constitute our matured and final contribution to intra-pelvic abdonn inal support and are, in our op nion, our most useful, needed and valuable abdominal supporters and reducers-the, combination of two well-known and largely used things (abdominal belts and uplift belts) which, united, produce a new, useful,much needed and long wanted result. i

The outer portion of bi-belts consists of a band or girdle which embraces a portionol. the abdominal. support, anddepending from the lower edge of the girdle are hose sup porters. The advantage of this arrangement is, that the elastic pull of the hose supporters does not cause a downward pull on the lower abdomen, but transmits this strain only tothe outer sections of bi-belts,and does not interfere with the normal operation ofthe inside levers. p p p a In' designing abdominal. uplift belts for corsets themeasureinentsare taken from the waistline or zone belt line of a corset downward, as described in Patent Number 1. #723,241, November 6, 1923.

In designing the inner belts or levers of bibelts the measurel'nents are not taken from the waistline at all but from the top of the outer girdle down, and as the top of the girdleniay vary to please a particular designer, and because the height of the girdle should vary to complement figures of diiferent types,there can be and is considerable latitude as to the distancethe lower front corners of said inner belts or levers maybe fromthe top front edge of theouter girdle. To illustrate: In designing for corsets (United States Letters Patent Numberlglmfiel) the top front corners of uplift beltsare approximately three inches be low thenatural waistline; but, for an average figure, thetop front corners of the inner belts or levers of bi belts will be approximately one and one-half inches below the top edge of the outer girdle. i Our invention is shown by way of illustration in; thehaccompanying drawings, in which: i

Fig. 1 is a plan .VlQW of the abdomen supporting belts and hose-supporting girdle; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a person on which theabdolninal support is laced and I tened.

showinghosessupporting girdle unfas- The illustrated embodiment of theinvention comprises abuse-supporting girdle 1,-

1, which consists 0tv twoseetions A and B, which are adjustably connected by lacing 2. The upper and lower edges of the sections A and B are suitably curved so as to fit properly about the body. Attached, as by stitchin to the girdle, is an abdominal supporter 3, I ;-Whi,ch isintwo 'sectionsjC and D, the section Gbeingsecured by a line of stitching 4' to the; girdle section A in outwardly spaced'relation from the laced edge 5, and the section D being secured 'by'a line of stitching (S te the girdl'esection in outwardly spaced relation f'ron'i'the laced ed ge' 'l.

'I't isit'o be noted that the rear ends of the abdominal supporting sections C and. D are secured to the girdle b lines of'stitchin 4 v and 6. respectively, so t at said ends are isposedin upwardly diverging spaced relation to each other.

nal supporting sections C'and D'd'ivergently u ward is that such positioning places the pane'ofthe'fulcrum at more nearly a right angle to the oblique forward and downward exertionof force, thereby resulting in in creased comfort and elficie'ncy.

The abdominalsuppo'rter 3,'Fig 1, is of fabri'c. which is relative y'stifhbut flexible, and

it'wi-l-l'be observed that the upper ends of attachment to the. girdle are considerably above the" lower abdominal region,'are at about the waist line. The endsof the sections of the abdominaisupporter which are' connected to the girdlmlare. relatively wide and-the lower edges of each section curve upwardly and downwardly to fit snugly'over the thigh; The

front edge of eaclr'jsection diverges downwardiy to follow and conform to the downward and inwardrecedingcurve of'the lower abdomen. As shown in Fig. 2, the front edges-of the sections Gand' D of the abdominai supporter: are rovided with ductile emphasis plates m, 1 to reenforce their lowerfrontl eorn'ers,;and with hooks to permitthe sections to be laced together.

When bi-belts are applied to the person, the

lacing 8, Fig. 2;]iscommenced f rom the top and--' as thedownward diverged front edges are drawn together. a diagonal pull is effected which acts from the upper parts of'attachmentof'the supportersections"to the back of the girdle, downward and-"frontward. The exertion of forceattthe nee front ends of'the supporter sections finally provides a lifting action at substantially right angles to the initial downward and frontward pull, and this lifting action subjects the lower abdomen and its intra-pelvically situmtal contents in an oblique centerward, upward and rearward life and support.

It will be observed that the girdle section B',-Fig. 1, is considerably longer than the section A. This construction permits the girdle to be fastened on either the right or 10 t side as preferred, suitable fastening devices being employed -for this purpose. The girdle 1, Fig. 1, is considerably widerthan the abdominal support; Attached to the lower edge of the girdle at proper intervals, hose supporters 9, attached to reenforcements k, are provided for each stocking. By this construction and' arrangement the elastic pull exerted by the hose supporters 9 is transmitted to the outer girdle only so that no harmful effect can be experienced by downpull upon the abdomen.

The functions of the outer open and extendedi'se'ctions A and B, shown in Fig. 2 are to provide a base for hose-supporters and to ensure a better contour of the front of the figure below the fullest part of the abdomen. As far as the operation of the l'evering uplift belts is concerned, sections A and B, frontward from stitchin lines 4 and 6, Fig. 1,'can be dispensed with ltogether, since the uplift belt portions C and D, Fig. 2, are wholly free from and act independently of said portions of sections A and B; but, when this is done, the upper front ends of uplift belts should be designed high enough to roperly contain the upper portion of the ab omen.

From the above, theoutstanding advantages of this invention will be appreciated. Bfi-belts have the dual function of' providing an eflicient abdominal lifting and so porting device, and a hose supporting girdle which eliminates harmful downpull upon the abdomen. This garment gives the wearer absolute freedom of movement without sacrificing the abdominalsupport so necessary for many women.

\Vhile we have described our bi-belts in more or less detail to comply with the requirements of'the statute, it is nevertheless desired that this detailed d'escri )tion be considered merely as illustrative an not as limiting, and it is to be understood that chun es and modifications may be made by those din become skilled inthis art without departing from the invention as definedin the followin claim.

, lat we claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent is: r

A bi-belt comprising a girdle, posed abdominal sup orting members-hav' their rear ends attac ed to said girdle, sh ig attached ends of the supporting members be; ing disposed spaced from each other, means a pair of op for connecting the front ends of the supporting members and means for connecting the free ends of the girdle, the rear ends of the supporting members diverging upwardly and the front ends of saidsupporting members diverging downwardly whereby as the down wardly diverged front ends continue to be drawn toward each other same exert a simultaneous upward and backward pressure at substantially right angles to the direction of 1 the initial strains.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto signed our names to this specification.

HUGH MALCOLM MOCORMICK. SARA WEBER MCCORMICK. 

